The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1887-12-20

conductor a prospect" We all
shook hands, and the drummer asked
De Soto for his bottle.
l turned my back, as also did
Davidson, for fear that we:wOuld see
something that would induce US to vote
against local option.
That night, after we had made a
supper on wild turkey stew that Fair
ley had caught walking into the
livery stable, looking for a
roast in sly place when two of our
preachers who were in town, could
not find 'em. Farley killed the bird
and it was powerful good eating.
After supper, De Soto said before
we went to church he wanted to find
the gallon house. / wouldn't find it
for him.
We then packed down to the
meetin' house and met Dan Wray
coming with lantern. Dan said he
was no sinner and would not 60 our
way.
Reverends Hawkins and Saultz,
two kid preachers. were at work when
we went in. 1t rained awful hard
outside, and De Soto looked alarmed
when he saw VilImOare and Mounts
walk In, arm in arm, and Davidson
take seat in close proximity to the
mourner's bench.
De Soto whispered to me and
wanted to know if the millennium came
in on the Boonville branch that
day?
l didn't answer him. / was too
Disguised.
Brother Stultz sang some good
old hymns and a pious young lady
with soldier cap on her head played
on machine to the tune of the preach
er's voice.
And De Soto was touched.
Hawkins preached a sermon on get
ting saved. and he drove some good,
square truths into the faces and breasts
of the audience.
Villmoare looked uneasy.
Davidson acted as if his
off boot hurt him, while Farley look
ed out of his eyes as if he would let
the turkens rOost, hereafter, where the
preachers could reach 'em.
Brother Hawkins in an impressive
and terribly persuading tone invited
the wicked to come up and shake
hands with the man of God.
DeSoto wouldn't move an inch. He
said he wanted to see the Mississippi
again before he Jined, to see if it
hadn't dried up.
Two young ladies went up and said
by their acts that "we are going to be
of His people"
Mounts saw this and marveled.
That was all he did do.
Brother Stultz asked me if was
saved? / told him l was, long time
afore he was born.
The Rev. Hawkins then gave a big
exhortation to sinners, telling them
how bad is was for bad people hereaf-
ter, and said all who had not paid
their subscription to the county paper,
in advance and felt the need ofsaving
power, must then come TO the front,
or get shut out at the I mile post.
Silence reigned in the church and
the waters rained on the roof.
Two gentlemen whispered to Will
moare. He nodded his head and all
was silent until meetin' was dismissed.
De Soto and l left and went back
to the Mississippi river by the way of
Aurora Springs and Jefferson City.
We stopped there few days and they
fed us on rabbit until our ears started
growing. Then we left for Cape
Girardeau. When we arrived there
De Soto was taken sick with Bright's
disease of the kidneys, and in few
days he died. For fear some dime
museum would get his earthly re-
mains, he requested that he be
buried in the river. tied a piece of
Warrensburg sand stone to his neck,
and he made a good sized hole in the
water, which closed up that afternoon.
| came back here in about three
weeks, where | found Col. Anthony
had stsked out claim for me and
posted on one of the stakes a copy of
the johnson gambling law, which was
needless. for when the late De Soto
had captured two jack pots in succc>-
sion, it notified me to cease to play
cards except for fun at 6ve-cent ante,
and "pass the buck" | built the
Flint-lock tavern, and I've been here
ever since. / have never ben back
to Carolina since, and unless Johnny
Trim gives me an Office, don't reckon
I'll ever 60"
When Brother Martin had CON-
.l..l-I .i: l:.kl. l:...-:.sl ..-..l... :.